Toilet



Sept. 14, 1948. `A. G. AGRA 2,449,441

TOILET l I .Filed Sept. 8, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheety 2 Sept. 14,1948.

Filed Sepi'.. 8, 1947 A. G. AGRA 4TOILET s she ets-Sheet' 3 fcgm,

Patented Slept.

UNITED sur ArtNr @MICE 5 Claims.

ThiS rrvehtiori reltes" 'toiletsg and hasl to' do mbreparticmaiflyfwith to Vs u"fir'use ih automobile h'ouse trailers and like $tru15ure`s. y

In general, atnoble house trailers presently in use are not providedwith adequate toilets. It

valve means may be provided for controlling communication between the Water supply pipe 4| and pipe 36. A valve tting 43, of known type, is threaded in the upper end of T 35. This fitting 43 comprises an inwardly opening valve normally held seated by a light spring or other yielding means. In the event the water supply to pipe 4| is cut o and the water is drained from that pipe, a partial vacuum would be produced therein. Under such conditions, if the valve 31 were opened, a partial vacuum or suction effect would be produced in the pipes 36 and 33. When that occurs, the suction responsive valve 43 opens so as to admit air into the pipes 36 and 33 thus breaking the Vacuum therein. Further, any partial vacuum produced in the pipes36 and 33 causes the check valve to be held more tightly against its seat, by atmospheric pressure. Accordingly, this check valve 30 and the suction responsive valve .434 cooperates to assure that pollution from bowl 28 of the lsource of water supply cannot occur. That is, of course, of utmost importance, as is recognized by health authorities.

The opening I1 through top wall I8 of cylinder II is controlled by a downwardly opening and upwardly closing valve 45 which is, in general, of known type. This valve comprises a suitably formed strip 46, which may be made of an impregnated fabric, leather, or other suitable material. l l One end of strip 46 is clamped between wall |8-and a flat 'plate 41 secured to wall I8 by screws 48, or in any other suitable manner. The screws 48' also pass through head 49 of a bowed leaf spring 50 lthe free end of which bears against the underface of a metal disc 5| riveted to strip 46 at theunderface thereof. The discl 5| is of somewhat greater diameter than opening I1 which normally is closed by the valve 45 held, by the pressure of spring 58, against the underface of wall I8. As, will be clear from what has been said, the valve 45 closes upwardly and opens downwardly and normally is held in closed position.

' YA piston 55 i'lts snugly within cylinder II and is.vertically reciprocable therein. This piston isv provided, at the underside thereof, with a transverserecess 56 closed, at its under side, by a plate 51- set into the underface of pistonv55 and removably secured thereto by screws 58, or in any other suitable manner. The piston 55 is further provided at its underface with a slot 59 intersecting recess 56 and opening, at its outer end, through the circumferential surface of piston 55. Slot 59 receives an arm 68 the inner portion of which eX- tends between the two portions of plate 51, the latter being in the form of two sections or plates. An elongated pin 6| is secured through the inner end of arm -60 and projects from the opposite sides thereof a substantial distance into the slot 56. Arm -66 is provided at its outer end With a collar Iwhich fits snugly about an operating shaft 66, to which it is suitably secured, conveniently by means of a dog pointed screw 61. The shaft A66 is rockably mounted through the side walls of a housing extension 68 opening into cylinder Il adjacent the lower end and at the front thereof. As is shown more clearly in Figure 9, shaft y6|; projects a substantial distance beyond eachof the side walls ofextension 68 and suitable means isprovided for effecting Ya fluid tight seal aboutshaft 66 where it passes through the side wall of extension 68. To that end I have shown stuiling boxes, each comprising a ring 10iitting about shaft 66 and secured in a suitable manner, conveniently by means of screws, to the side Wall each end with a reduced hexagonal stud 14 adapted to t snugly into a corresponding recess in a so-cket element 15 at the lower end of an operating lever 16. Preferably, each end of shaft 66 is suitably bored and tapped for reception of a headed screw 18 inserted through socket element 15 Yand threaded into shaft `66, effective for preventing casual displacement of the lever 16- ItA will be understood that lever 16 provides convenient means for -oscillating or rocking the shaft 66 so as to reciprocate the piston 55 within cylinder II, and that the lever 16 may be applied to either end of shaft 66, as conditions may require.

The base structure l0 is provided with a projection 88 extending rearward from cylinder II.`

This projection 86 is provided with an upper passage 8| opening into cylinder rem-Ote from the bottom thereof, and a lower passage 82, of subvstantially less cross sectional area than passage,

8|, opening into cylinder adjacent the bottom thereof. The passages 8| and 82 open, at their outer ends, through the Yat upper surface of projection 80. A gasket 83 is clamped between theA upper surface of projection 8|) and a hood 84 at Y the lower end of an elbow 85, hood 84 being se-,- cured to projection in a suitable manner, con- A pipe 86 is threaded in the other end of elbow 85 and extends', therefrom downward through the iioor 38 of th? veniently by means of screws.

trailer for discharge into a suitable bucket or container beneath the trailer or, if desired, the pipe 86 may be connected by a length of hose to any suitable point of discharge. The pipe 86 and the elbow 85 together constitute a discharge conduit, as will be understood.

YThe gasket 83 may be formed of an impregnated fabric, of leather, or of any other suitable material.l It extends substantially throughout the full area of the top surface of projection 80 and is provided with arcuate slots defining valve members 88 and ll'overlying the outer upper ends of passages 8| and 82, respectively. A metal disc 96 is secured to valve member 88, at the outer face thereof, and a metal discv8| is secured to valve member`89 at the upper face of the latter. The discs 90 and 9| are conveniently secured to the valve members 88 and 89 by screw means, vbut may be secured thereto in any other suitable manner. It will be noted that discs 80 and 9| substantially correspond in diameter to the upper ends of the corresponding passages 8| and 82, and thel valve members 88 and 89Vnormally are in lowered position seating on the upper face of projection 86 effective for closing the upper ends of passages 8| and 82. These passages 8| and 82 are thus controlled by normally closed inwardly closing and outwardly opening valves which are independently operable.

Preliminary to use of the toilet, a substantial amount of water shouldbe admitted to the bowl 20 by opening the valve 31, as will be understood. After the toilet has been used, the piston 55 is reciprocated byrocking the lever '|6. In the down stroke of piston 55 a partial vacuum created thereby `within cylinderql I is effective for opening the valve AIIB; so that the y contents. -off the,V lbowl` ZIILare dischargeddnto the cylinder I I. upstroke-of piston 55 valven45=is closedfand the contentsy of cylinder -I I are. dlschargedgthrough the passage Y8l into `hood 84; andi-thence lthrought the i discharge^ conduit comprising elbows-8a and.

pipel'li:Vi During-this `operationl the valve SIfis held open# andthe bewl- 2Q. is thorcughlyeflushed out'wigthclean water, -the `succeeding down stroke of piston 55 again opening.` the @Valve 45 soi-that the water from bowl ;'isfdischargedfiint0 cylinderA Il; from which'l it is discharged in the succeeding upstroke of, pistonj.. In that manner, by repeated operation ofthe piston an appropriete. number ,o ttimesrand thoroughly flushing the bowl 28, the toilet maybegmaintained in a thoroughlyL cleanandanitaly condition.

In order to prevent' formation of a partial vacuunobeneath piston 45; during its upstroke, a.

valve 95 of knowntypeisthreaded .into thehouslng extension 58. in alignment .with the;^ dog pointedY screw 8l. This valve95 is of known. type and contains Lan inwardly openingva1vemember normallytheld seated. byflightfspring pressure or other suitable yielding means. The outerfend of valve` =95 ais connected bye.. tube 96 to a similar valvel threaded intoelbow 85. The outer-end offvalve Sails threaded Ainto i,heneck of a iF-99 included `instl'ic. tube 96:: From T 98 fthe, tube 85 fis led upwarda suitabledistance andpreferably passes through the roof ,of the trailer. During the upstroke ofpiston 55 air is admitted to theihousing extension 68 ,"1 andsthence to the lower poi-tiener cylinder il, thronghvalve 85. During the. down: strokeof pist.on55, a ny liquid; which may haveleaked past the pistoninto the lower portion ofcylinder Il is discharged from-lthe cylinder through the passage 182.'. it being` noted that theA valve .$15. closes outwardly so thatvnone of lsuch liquid can be dischargedthrough .that valve. The contents of cylinder II are thus effectively discharged through the passages 8l and 82 into -hood 8d, and thencethrough the elbow Siifanol pipette. As the materials now downward through the pipe 86 a syphoning eiect is produced which tends to create a partial vacuum within the elbow 85 and hood 84. When that occurs, the valve 98 opens and admits air to the elbow 85, thus breaking the vacuum, in the event a small vacuum effect is produced, and admitting atmospheric air to the hood 84 effective for maintaining the valves 88 and 89 closed, except at such times as the contents of cylinder II are being discharged therefrom under pressure through the passages 8| and 82. Since the valves 88 and 89 are independently operable, valve 89 remains closed during discharge of the contents of cylinder II through passage 8|, and valve 88 remains closed during discharge through passage 82, thereby assuring that a partial vacuum of proper value will be produced above piston 55 during the down stroke thereof, as and for the purposes above described. The elbow 85 also limits the maximum height of water within bowl 20, thereby avoiding risk of flooding, and assures a water seal between bowl 28 and pipe 86, which is conducive to prevention of objectionable odors within the trailer.

Preferably, the lower portion of bowl 28 and the base structure I0 and associated parts are enclosed by a sheet metal housing |02 of appropriate form engaging, at its forward portion, beneath a shoulder |03 of bowl 20, there being a packing element |04 of angle cross section intern: nu

posedbetween housing.. [0 2 a and 1 Shoulder@ I lt Conveniently; the-housing I (l2 commises section-.Illvliayngfabaseilange [86, scanne im f floor `38: .ofi they trailer?, and 2i. .bkf 5.951.@

having side. flanges .I IIB: fitting 1 .beliwenj thereto, coxweniently.` bwmeansio .screw main i .section .LI t5 .aofi housing: j fprfilliiledv .nu opposite^ l sides' of the forward portions lJhQIeQf with twoA openings llllpalignedgwithshaft eallft spaced a short distance from .the1. nd "llhrllliu thesesopenings.heinguof;faplllopliatoi iZ :IRQ a0 oommadateythe'spcketelement 1590i@ loller 15;: The. opening l IIl-wnot'in'use mayvbe .closedibyc n cap nl I I provided mushy resilientpelementil l' Qf known .type, inserted through .opening IIB@ releasably.heldeinnposition therein. Y The house lng- I G2 in addition. to providing.. an. enclosure..

for.- the lower portion xof the bowl and. tlleghasa structure and. associatedzparts, also servesstofme partdesired stability1to thgtoilet.V The Structure is, as awhole, compactand of, such charactee that it maybe enclosed :inaisuitableboxing; casing ofy a character to beusedas. aseatgwheree:

bywastespace is avoided..

nallyu closed downwardly opening and u-mvarcllyY closing.valvccontrolling communication between said bowl and.y cylinder.- a piston. operating yin said cylinder, saidfstructure` having` a projection exe tending .toonesideof saidcylinder providedwith two; outlet` passages opening :at their outer; ends through saidfprojection and at their-.innemends into said cylinder adjacent and remote from the bottom thereof respectively, normally closed outwardly opening and inwardly closing valves respectively controlling the outer ends of said passages, and a discharge conduit comprising a hood secured to said projection enclosing the outer ends of said passages.

2. In a toilet for automobile house trailers and the like, a cylinder closed at its bottom and having a housing extension adjacent its lower end, a bowl overlying and discharging into said cylinder, a normally closed downwardly opening and upwardly closing valve controlling communication between said bowl and cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder, a shaft rockably mounted in said extension projecting through the sides thereof with sealing means extending about said shaft, the latter being adapted at each end for reception of an operating lever, and operating connections between said shaft and piston, said cylinder having valved outlet means through which the contents thereof are discharged by operation of said piston.

3. In a toilet f-or automobile house trailers and the like, a base structure comprising a cylinder closed at its bottom and having at oney side a housing extension adjacent its lower end opening thereinto, a bowl seating on said base structure discharging into said cylinder, a normally closed downwardly opening and upwardly closing valve controlling communication between said bowl 7` and cylinder, a 'pist-on operating in said cylinder, said-Structurehaving two outlet passages opening into said cylinder adjacent and remote from the bottom thereof respectively, normally closed outwardly opening and inwardly closing valves respectively -controlling said. passages, an operating shaft rockably mounted in said extension projecting through one side thereof, and operatingv connections between said shaft .and said piston, said extension having suction responsiv means for admitting. air thereto.

4. In a toilet forV automobile house trailers and the like, a base structure .comprising a cylinder closed at'its bottom', a bowl lseating on said base `structure dischargingvinto said cylinder, a normally closed downwardly opening and upwardly closing valve controlling communication between `said bowl and cylinder, a piston operating in said cylinder, said structure having a projection exy tending from the back of said cylinder provided withtWo outlet passages opening at their outer ends through said projection and at their inner 'endsinto said cylinder adjacent and remote from the Ybottom thereof respectively, normally closed outwardly opening and inwardly closing valves respectively controlling the outer ends of said passages, a discharge conduit comprising a hood secured to said projection enclosing the outer ends of said passages and having suction respon- ,sive means for admitting air to said hood, said cylinder having a transverse housing extension at 'the front and adjacent the lower end thereof ,opening thereinto, and a shaft rockably mounted :in saidfextension projecting through oneV side thereof and having operating connection to said piston,A said extension having suction responsive :means for admitting air thereto.

5. In a toilet'for automobile house trailers and :the like, a bowl having anoutlet opening` atits ,lower` end, la reciprocatingdischarge pump` comi jprising a substantiallyvertical vcylinder and a fpiston operatingtherein, ysaid-pump,having an intake opening for communication with said out- ?let opening and a discharge opening,` an .inlet walve for saidpump controlling said intakeopen- 8 ing, said valve opening toward rsaid pistonand closing toward said bowl, a discharge` conduit comprising a member extending from and Vabove said discharge opening, an inwardly closing and outwardly opening pump disch-arge valve controlling said conduit and disposed below the high point thereof effective for providing a water seal above said discharge valve when the latter is closed, and a normally closed suction responsive valve effective for admitting air to said discharge conduit to break a partial vacuum-therein for maintaining the water seal.

ARTHUR G. AGRA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

` UNITED STATES PA'IEN'rsV Number vName ADate '141,482` Bishop Aug. 15, 1873 205,036 Bishop June 18, 1878 289,210 Bishop v Nov. 7,1883 '368,329 DeRycke Aug; 16, 1887 591,190 MacDonald Oct. 5, 1897 637,399 Miles Nov. 21, 1899 924,646 Diem June 15, 1909 1,278,665 Hunter Sept. 10, 1918 1,403,688 Hunter Jan. 17, 1922 1,586,079 Formaneck May 25, 1926 1,650,370 Mahoney Nov. 22, 1927 1,732,192 Lee Oct. 15, 1929Y 1,750,779 Lee Mar. 18, 1930 1,755,993 Kelley et al Apr. 22, 1930 1,888,842 Allan Nov. 22, 1932 1,960,144 Entriken May 22, 1934 2,037,023 Holby Apr. 14, 1936 2,060,567 Glenk Nov. 10, 1936 2,117,389 Yoder May 17, 1938 2,247,911 DuPont July 1, 1941 2,372,940 Ellis Apr..3, 194

' FOREGN PATENTS l Number Country Date 32,593

Austria Apr. 10, 1908 

